The state of Missouri filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, and related authorities, accusing them of mishandling the COVID-19 outbreak and causing serious economic damage. The complaint criticizes China for concealing the danger of the virus, silencing whistleblowers, taking little action, and hoarding medical masks and protective equipment, thereby worsening the global spread of the infection. This article examines America’s move to seek compensation from China and questions the reporting stance of Japanese media.

April 23, 2020
The complaint criticizes the Chinese government for buying up medical masks and protective equipment,
thereby worsening the global state of infection.
It estimated the economic losses at several billion dollars, hundreds of billions of yen, to tens of billions of dollars.
The following is from today’s Sankei Shimbun.
Since I changed the channel last night, I do not know for certain,
but NHK’s Watch 9 probably did not report it.
TV Tokyo’s WBS did report it.
Missouri sues China.
Seeking compensation over coronavirus response.
By Yoshinari Kurose, Washington.
On the 21st, the government of the Midwestern U.S. state of Missouri filed a lawsuit in federal district court,
seeking damages on the grounds that the Chinese government, the Communist Party, and related authorities mishandled the novel coronavirus response,
causing serious economic damage to the state.
Regarding the Chinese government’s response,
individuals and companies in the United States have successively filed class-action lawsuits,
but this is the first lawsuit filed by a state government.
Missouri Attorney General Schmitt emphasized in a statement:
“The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and infectiousness of the novel coronavirus,
silenced whistleblowers,
and did little to stop the spread of the disease.”
The complaint criticizes the Chinese government for buying up medical masks and protective equipment,
thereby worsening the global state of infection.
It estimated the economic losses at several billion dollars, hundreds of billions of yen, to tens of billions of dollars.
The governor of the state is a Republican,
and Republicans also hold a majority in the state legislature.
The Trump administration has strongly criticized China’s response to the novel coronavirus
and has taken the position that it will pursue responsibility for spreading the infection throughout the world.
The lawsuit by the state is also seen as a move in line with the administration.
However, there is also a strong view that it will be difficult actually to pursue China’s legal responsibility in court.